Judges
Western, Gaited, Driving
Dennis Clement
Dennis Clement has judged horses for 32 years and is a certified Equine Judge for The Ohio State University and Michigan State University, and holds national equine judges’ cards for the Pinto Horse Association of America, International Buckskin Horse Association, American Buckskin Registry Association and the Ponies of America. He has judged the 2008 and 2012 All American Youth Horse Show, 2018 International Buckskin Horse Association Warm-Up To The World Show, Multiple Times judging Michigan and Ohio State 4-H Youth Horse/Pony Shows, and the 2000 AMHA East Coast Regional Obstacle and Liberty Classes. He is a Fish and Wildlife Management and Interpretative Services graduate of Hocking College.
Dressage
Tracey Smith-Oliver
Tracey Smith-Oliver is a USDF L-Graduate and a Certified Instructor (Training - Second Level). Tracey has competed through Prix St George dressage and Preliminary level eventing. She enjoys teaching students of all levels from her farm in Fairfield, Va. where she lives with her husband Bill, along with her 2 horses, numerous cats and chickens, and their dog, George.
Tami Batts
Tami Batts lives in Greensboro, NC and owns and operates Fellowship Farm. Fellowship is a full service dressage training facility that is home to 37 horses. Along with training, Tami still enjoys competing and bringing anyone who is passionate about dressage up the levels. She is an S dressage judge and has earned her bronze, silver and gold USDF medals.
Western
Terri Rakosky
Terri Rakosky is a Professional Judge, Equine Consultant, and Trainer of National, World, and National High Point Champions in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Dressage, Youth and Amateur exhibitors. She is a native of Michigan with roots in the County 4-H Equine System. She has been judging for 40+ years and is carded ApHC, NSBA, PtHA, NCSU Open Show Certified and retired as carded judge for ApHCC, PHBA, IBHA, ABRA, POAC. Terri has judged a multitude of shows including the 2010 ApHC National Championships, 2000 ApHC National Youth Championships, 2003 ApPHA National Championship Pleasure Futurities, the 2017 Swedish National PtHA and ApHC Championships, and the 2021 UK National Appaloosa Championships.
Conner Smith
Conner Smith began his first season as head coach of the Midway University Equestrian Western program in 2019. Smith comes to Midway after serving as the Assistant Trainer at Carrie Grose Quarter Horses – an organization that specializes in the All-Around events for both the AQHA and the APHA. Smith assisted amateurs with coaching at home and in horse shows in Florida and coached numerous 4-H clubs and open shows across North Carolina. During his internship with Lincoln County 4-H in Lincolnton, N.C., Smith coordinated, planned and managed 4-H events. He also served as the Assistant Riding Instructor at Abernathy Farm in Gastonia, North Carolina in 2016. While there he developed lesson plans and instructed students on proper riding and showing etiquette. Smith enjoyed a very successful riding career at St. Andrews University Laurinburg, NC. He was named the 2018 AQHA/IHSA High Point Rider and won the IHSA National Championship in Open Horsemanship that same year. Smith graduated from St. Andrews University with a B.A. in Equine Business Management.
Hunter & Side Saddle
Louise Steinfort Boling
Louise Bowling Steinfort began riding and showing in the mid 1960’s and continues to the present day. She began judging in the early 1980’s and obtained her USEF license (Hunter and Hunt Seat Equitation divisions) in the early 1990’s. Louise shows primarily in the adult amateur hunter and sidesaddle divisions. While showing aside, she achieved particular success at the Devon Horse shows in 1986 and 2001, as well as the National Horse show at Madison Square Garden in 1987. Louise also enjoys getting out of the ring to ride to hounds, compete in hunter pace events and go trail riding on her favorite horse Honneur, aka Oscar.
Hunter
DeDe Schumate
DeDe Bache-Shumate is a 25+ year veteran of the judge’s stand in the hunter and Equitation ring and her home base is in Virginia where she ran a horse operation until 2015. Horses from her barn won numerous championships and she gained a sterling reputation throughout training and showing young horses. She has been a judge at all the major horse shows including Upperville Horse Show, Middleburg Classic (Locals), Warrenton Horse show, HITTS in Culpeper. She carries her USEF “r” judges license.
Alumni Judges
Hunter Liles Phillips
Dressage Showmanship
Chelsea Bickley
Junior Hunter Showmanship
Beka Powers
Junior Hunter Showmanship & Drill Team
Robin Wood
Senior Hunter Showmanship
Rachel Bandy
Senior Hunter Showmanship
Paige Merriam
Trail Prelims & Drill Team